OAKLAND, Calif. — Yoan Moncada was not in the starting lineup for the Red Sox’ 16-2 win on Friday over the Athletics. Much as they did with Andrew Benintendi last month, the Sox wanted to give Moncada a little time to get acclimated to the majors.

But the 21-year-old will not be a spectator for long. Manager John Farrell said the third baseman would get the majority of the at-bats against righthanded starters and would start on Saturday night.

“He wouldn’t be here if we didn’t feel like he could step in and contribute,’’ Farrell said.

Moncada, it seems, will get a significant opportunity. Farrell met with incumbent third basemen Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill and told them the rookie would be playing regularly.

“Kind of outlining what the breakdown would look like going forward,’’ Farrell said. “I think everyone was understanding. Our goal was all the same: to win as many games as possible and make sure we get into the postseason.’’

To go from Double A to the pennant race is an unusual jump. But then Moncada is an unusual player. The Sox signed the Cuban star to a $31.5 million bonus in 2015 and paid an additional $31.5 million penalty to Major League Baseball for exceeding their international signing limits.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the decision to promote Moncada wasn’t a complicated one.

“We think he can help us win ballgames,’’ Dombrowski said. “For me, he looks ready.’’

Moncada hit .277 with a .910 OPS in 45 games for Portland. But he was still surprised to learn of his promotion.

“I felt very proud and very happy to get the news that I would be called up. Just very excited,’’ Moncada said via translator Daveson Perez. “I didn’t think they were going to call.’’

Moncada immediately called his mother, Caridad Olivera, in Cuba. She already had heard the news.

“She’s very excited. My family was very excited,’’ Moncada said. “That’s what you come to this country for, to play baseball and hopefully one day get to the majors.’’

Moncada, who was given No. 65, had a small group of family and friends at the game. His agent, David Hastings, made the trip from Florida along with some friends. Moncada’s 2-year-old son, Robinson, also was at the game.

“I’m excited to be a part of the team that’s competing for a championship. I’m ready to do whatever I can to support that,’’ said Moncada, who came on in the seventh to play third and walked in his first major league at-bat. He scored from first on Shaw’s double, then he struck out in the ninth. “I’m just looking not to do too much. Just play the same baseball that I’ve played.

Moncada came up as a second baseman and played only 10 games at third in the minors, all last month. The Sox, Farrell said, would use Hill as a defensive replacement late in games.

Moncada played third base as a teenager in Cuba and feels comfortable there.

“The only difference that I see at third base is that the double play is a different dynamic. It’s more about reaction as opposed to second base, where it’s more agility based,’’ he said.

Moncada was on field early on Friday afternoon, going over defensive shifts, signs, and the team’s infield terminology with coach Brian Butterfield.

One of the organization’s mental skills coaches, Laz Gutierrez, was part of the conversation. He speaks Spanish, although Moncada has come a long way speaking English.

Moncada sprained his left ankle on July 31 and played only two games over the 10 days that followed. He returned to the Portland lineup on Aug. 11 and played nine games before being called up.

“It feels good. I can run on it, put pressure on it. I’m ready to go,’’ he said.

Shaw was hitting .295 with an .869 OPS on June 1 with 27 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs over 53 games. He has since hit .204 with a .631 OPS and has 19 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs over 71 games.

The Sox were prepared for some ups and downs with Shaw, but he has slumped for the better part of three months. Shaw had a homer and five RBIs on Friday but it’s unclear what his role will be now.

“He’s not a forgotten guy, I will tell you that,’’ Farrell said. “It’s going to be important for Travis to make sure that the work pregame is there.’’

Hill has hit only .196 in 33 games for the Sox since being obtained from the Milwaukee Brewers in July.

Moncada, a switch-hitter, hit .167 against lefthanders while with Portland.

►Red Sox overpower A’s, Page 2

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.